Darrel Gray played for Albion and coached Adirondack modified football team

Darrel Gray, the modified football coach at Adirondack Central School District, is shown with his daughter Nora. They were both killed in a car accident on Thursday in Oneida County.

A 1992 Albion High School graduate and his daughter were killed in Oneida County on Thursday.

Darrel Gray and his daughter were in a head-on collision at about 7 a.m. with a fully loaded tractor trailer.

The two were on their way to swim practice. They are from West Leyden in Lewis County. The accident occurred in the town of Ava.

Gray was driving an SUV and crossed into the opposite lane, colliding with the tractor-trailer, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office reported.

He and his daughter were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The two have both been very active members of the Adirondack school district, where Gray was the modified football coach and Nora was on the swim team.

Gray stayed connected with many of his Albion classmates and former teammates.

He is survived by his wife Marion and their son Mitchell.

Geno Allport, a local football coach, graduated with Gray in 1992 and played with him on the football team. They would see each other each spring at high school coaching conferences.

Gray was a long-time Seattle Seahawks fan and reveled in their recent Super Bowl victory. But Gray brought his family to Orchard park to see the Bills last Nov. 2. Buffalo won, 28-21, against their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gray was a long-time coach at the Adirondack school.

“He was coaching football for the right reasons,” Allport said. “He loved the kids. He was teaching them life. It wasn’t about the wins and losses.”

Allport said the death of Gray and his daughter is devastating for his friends in Albion, and especially for the Adirondack school community.

“He’s always been a great guy with a great family,” Allport said. “It’s just horrible news.”

Geno Allport, in back, reconnected during a Nov. 2 Buffalo Bills game with Darrel Gray, his wife Marion and their children, Mitchell and Nora.

Photos courtesy of Geno Allport: Darrel Gray, no. 48, warms up with the Albion football team during the Sectional final in 1991 when the team was edged 27-26 by Williamsville South at the former Rich Stadium. Gray was a receiver on the team. Geno Allport bought Gray’s old jersey from the school and sent it to Gray who was thrilled to put it on again.

Gray’s wife asks Albion community to share memories of her husband, daughter

In the wake of the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Darrel, and daughter, Nora, Marion Gray is asking the Albion community and anyone whose life was touched by them to share those memories.

Mrs. Gray has created an email for herself and their son Mitchell: CoachandNora@gmail.com.

“With everything being so overwhelming, and the way social media feeds can make messages difficult to find later, Marion is asking anyone who knew Darrel or Nora to please send stories, memories, funny moments, or anything special you remember about them,” said family friend Geno Allport of Albion.

“Her hope is to print these messages and create a book for herself and Mitchell, something they can turn to on the dark days to read about Mitchell’s dad and sister, remember the lives they touched, and hopefully find moments to smile, laugh, or cry together.”

Marion may not be able to respond to the emails, but she asks that you please include who you are and how you knew Darrel or Nora, Allport said.

Press Release, Nioga Library System

File photo by Tom Rivers: Tom Bindeman, the director of the Nioga Library System for 21 years, is shown speaking at an Orleans County Legislature meeting in October 2021. Bindeman urged legislators to keep some funding in the county budget for libraries, which he said helped many residents during the Covid pandemic with internet access, including people using the WiFi in parking lots after hours.

LOCKPORT – Nioga Library System is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Sykes as executive director, effective August 10. His appointment comes after the retirement of Tom Bindeman, who served as executive director for over 21 years.

Frank Sykes joins the Nioga Library System with over 18 years of public library experience, most recently serving as executive director of the Geneva Public Library. He holds a Master of Library Science Degree from University at Buffalo and Bachelor of Science in History from SUNY Brockport.

Sykes was awarded 2024 Youth Advocate of the Year by Geneva 2030 for his commitment to fostering community and advocacy work with families in the Finger Lakes area. As a leader, Sykes is passionate about collaboration and strengthening the roles libraries play in our communities.

“Public libraries are cherished places where people come together, learn something interesting, meet a new friend, and feel a sense of belonging,” Sykes said. “That is what makes this opportunity with the Nioga Library System so meaningful to me. I am honored to begin this new chapter alongside the dedicated people who make each Nioga member library such a vital part of Western New York.”

The Nioga Library System is a non-profit cooperative library system that serves the public libraries in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. Chartered in 1959, Nioga seeks to extend and improve library services by assisting local libraries in meeting the information needs of their communities through leadership, education, inspiration, and enhanced resource sharing.

“I’m looking forward to hearing their stories, championing their hard work, and building meaningful connections across our region,” Sykes said. “Together, I believe we can strengthen our libraries and ensure they continue to be places where everyone has the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive.”

Gretchen Schweigert also joined Nioga as the new Member Library Consultant on July 29 after the retirement of Lisa Erickson. Schweigert worked as a reference librarian at the Niagara Falls Public Library shortly after she graduated from UB with her Master of Library & Information Science.

Schweigert then went on to be the director of the Royalton Hartland Community Library in Middleport for 7 years before being hired as Director at the Newfane Public Library in 2024. That same year she was appointed to the Board of the Western New York Library Resources Council and currently serves as Board Secretary. Schweigert is also active in her community, most notably volunteering with the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival since its inception.